Haven't Heard From Us - Summer is Here!

This week was the first week of summer! So far, we've been to an amusement park, the pool, taste of our cities resturants festival, volleyball in our front yard, sprinkler and lots of popscicles. But on our first day of summer we went back to school to say Good-bye to Caleb's teacher. He enjoyed field day last week and enjoyed his second grade year but now it's summer. Abby graduated from preschool and will start Kindergarten next year and Caroline will be going to Junior High next year. It can't be true that I have a junior high student in my house. At our house besides all the summer fun we have a time for chores (our famous chore chart is up on the kitchen wall) and a time for reading! So sorry we haven't written much lately, we have been to busy enjoying the first days of Summer!

Summer Fun!

With only two more days of school and hot temps and our first taste of humidity, we brought out the sprinkler tonight for some fun. The water was a bit chilly but it didn't stop everyone and especially Asher who just loved the water. We have a friend over and everyone thinks we adopted again when he comes to play cause he fits in great with our family. Here are the FUN photos!

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I'm it!

So I've been tagged by my friend Shelley . And I guess I'm suppose to say 7 random things about me. I much rather share about everyone else in the family so, here goes my try at this.

1. I was born breach with the cord wraped around my neck and I have a bald spot on the right side of my head as a reminder of how hard the doctors worked to get me out. I was the first of twins so I wasn't getting the push from my sister I needed. Or was I?

2. I have never lived out of the city I grew up in except for 4 years of college.

3. I LOVE to travel and vision of traveling the world. There is not one place I won't love to go and visit and meet the people, try the language and the food! Maybe when my kids are all grown. Right honey?

4. We are currently painting our first floor and now have an orange kitchen and looking for time and engery to paint our family room "Coffee". I enjoy changing things but due to time, money and energy we rarely do. Our last painting over haul was when we moved in 12 years ago and everything went to white or off white.

5. I love the Wiggles! Being a mom of toddlers still and I truely love the wiggles and would love to be a wiggly dancer! What a work out!

6. I love trying new foods especially different cultural foods. I can't wait next month for the Greek festival here in town and they also serve Ethiopian since it held by the local Greek Orthodox Church and they are the only orthodox church in town.

7. I love the summer but have learned to be inside between 11am and 1pm each day for fear of burning too much. It doesn't happen every day but MANY days.

8. My parents are only children and they had 6 kids and thus I love big families and not sure if mine will get too big but so far we are the biggest family among my siblings (4 kids).

9. So addicted to Amazing Race and I have to say that I really enjoy lots of reality TV but try not to get addicted to many just Amazing Race.

10. I can't stand to cook and would love to always eat out. Chinese would be my favorite but I can enjoy a Mc D's snack wrap and double chees burgers pretty well.

Ok, now I'm suppose to tag 7 more bloggers to I know 7 friends that Blog. Please forgive me if you don't want to participate and maybe you've already been tagged or you don't even read my blog, sometimes I wonder - "Is anyone really reading this?" Anyway,

You're IT!

Sandra
Laura
Emily
Debbie
Kris
Cathy
Rhonda

Opps I just figured out (four hours after posting this) that I can't count to 7. I thought I was going to have a hard time coming up with them. I guess not!

It's How You Look at Things!

I have the best family in the world! And in it I have an amazing husband and four wonderful children! I was fooled by my daughter in the last post and she was paid well for her kind words (:0) Just kidding! She mentioned a soccer tournament this last weekend. We packed everyone into the van and headed to Lexington, KY on this most beautiful weekend. We had a great time with wonderful weather, a fun night at a hotel, lots of fun foods, great party time with friends and family on the soccer team and of course the pool! Caroline's team played three teams that were two and three levels higher than their team so needless to say there wasn't too much success. Well at least not success as most people see it, but I would say that this weekend was a smashing success in a different way.

Our team improved their level of play, they learned that the calls don't always go your way and they learned that winning is not the only measure of success. They were successfull this weekend because they never gave up and they poured it on when everyone else would have felt empty. They played with integrity and fairness and didn't let things said or done get to them. It wasn't all about any individual but about the team! I'm so proud of them all and when we got home I was joking with Caroline about getting ready for another game that evening and she smiled and said she wish she had one. It's not always the out come but the journey that matters! And that is what I'm taking away from this weekend and these 12 year old girls that gave it their all- No Matter What!

Isn't that what God has done for us. He gave His all regardless of how unapreciative we are and very undeserving of it. He had integrity and fairness even though everyone around him was displaying something different. He poured out His life for us when He should have been empty. Wow, I didn't start out to make this a spiritual analogy! God is good and teaching me every day! Thank you, Lord!

Happy Mother's Day

I (Caroline) have been wanting to do this for a long time but have never gotton permission/access to the computer. It is pretty rare that this happens together at one time. Mom, I know you think I am going to do a soccer post about my tournament this weekend but I've changed the subject a little...

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

just a few words that come to mind when I think of mom:

unselfish

caring

loving

kind

sporty

adventurous

tolerant (you have to, to be our mama!)

Just one quick story...

OK so we went to Lexington Kentucky for a tournament this weekend (yes mothers day weekend!) and we stayed in a hotel for one night. Well, we remembered everything except the sleeping bag for Caleb. This is a miracle in itself but the sleeping bag was much needed so we told Caleb he could sleep on the chair. For future information if a piece of funiture looks comfy, don't trust it. Caleb was restless through the night. Halfway through, mom layed on the floor and let Caleb have her spot. I was not awake for this by the way... :)

Anyway though, that's just a small glimpse of mom's additude: it's not about me.

Mama, thanks. I want to be a Godly woman like you when I grow up!!! Happy Mother's Day!

Asher's First Year!

Last year on May 9th we got our first glimspe of Asher. Here is a montage of Asher's first year in photos. Enjoy!

http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=2af02b29acfb83fd7a5dd8

A Star is Born!

Abby had her first ballet recital this weekend! She was in the pre-ballet class and the recital theme was candy land. Her class was cotton candy. She did a wonderful job and smiled through the whole routine. Not only did her grand parents make the show but also her Uncle B from Florida. She thought having a little make-up on was the best part of the whole thing. When I woke her up on Saturday for her pictures she popped out of bed and said "Can I have my make-up on now, PLEASE!" She is such a diva!

Happy Birthday to the Oldest!

Twelve years ago on 5-5-95 I gave birth to our wonderful red hair wonder. She is soooooo sweet and has a heart for the Lord. She has a heart for the lost and compassion abounds in her. She is very smart, athletic and always looking to serve others. We love her with all our hearts. We celebrated her birthday by eating Mexican food (for Cinco de Mayo) and watching the Kentucky Derby. She is a joy to celebrate and we hsd a great time!

Outdoor photos!

Here are some of the shots of us enjoying the great Spring weather we've been having.

Where have we been????

OUTSIDE!!!!! The weather has been great here and I don't have a single picture to prove it. But we've been playing with side walk chalk and Asher has been eating it. Our grass in the yard is worn down again where the kids have been playing baseball. Brad parks his car outside again cause his side of the garage is full of bikes, wheel barrows, chalk, bubbles and strollers. We are at soccer games and playing at parks. I love it! We've started eating lunches on the front lawn and taking walks and bike rides! Praise the Lord for the wonderful weather of Spring! This is a birthday weekend so stay tuned for photos and fun celebrating our oldest daughter!